Electric control system for vehicle direction indicators



Dec@ 11 1923. 1,476,791

H, S. BECKMAN ELECTRIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATORS Filed Sept. 2, 1919 INVEN TOR.

WITNESS:

Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES HERBERT s. IBECKMAN, or LOS enemas, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATORS.

Application filed September 2, 1919. Serial No. 322,720:

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT S. BECKMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Losv Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Electric Control Systems for ehicle Direction Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to and has for its main object the provision of a practical, efiicient, economical and reliable system of operation and control for direction indicators such as are used on automobiles and other vehicles.

A particular object of my invention is to provide in a system of the character mentioned, means for manually setting the indicating mechanism so as to indicate a contemplated change of direction or stoppage of the vehicle prior to the beginning of such a change, together with means operable automatically with the changingof direction for releasing and restoring said manually operable means and maintaining the signal devices in the positions set thereby initially until the change is completely effected. In other words, a manual operating device and an automatic operating device so connected that the former being initially set will be released by the latter and the positions established by the former maintained by the latter until the completion of the change, whereupon all of said devices will be restored to normal positions. Other objects ma appear in the description hereinafter fiillowing. I have illustrated one practical embodiment of my invention in the drawings forming a part of this application and appended hereto, similar characters of reference being used throughout the specification and in the several views of the drawings for indicating the same and like parts.

In said drawings: 2

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved control device, partly in section, attached to the steering post of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the top removed;

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram suitable for connecting the elements of said device for operation;

A convenient and suitable form of device includes a housing or case C provided on the lower portion with a semi-circular extension adapted to fit around the outer column 2 of an automobile steering'post S, said extension having outwardly projecting lugs 3, 3, and a separate member 4 of like character, adapted to be secured to thelugs 3, 3, by means of bolts 6, 6, for rigidly clamping the device on the steering post S, as shown.

The interior of the case C, has a pilot lamp P, near the outer end thereof and'inwardl of said lamp are a pair of sets of space switch contacts R and L on the right and left hand sides of the center of the case, respectively. The contact sets R and L are each composed of a pair of contacts 7 and 8 insulated from each other by means of spacers 9; similar insulating spacers 10 between the contacts 7 and the bottom 11 of case C; and upper contacts 12 spaced from contacts 8 by means of insulating plates 13. All of the contacts of each set are normally spaced apart and contacts 7 and 8 have right angular projections 14 and 15, respectively, the outer extremities of which are curled, as shown. The contacts 12 have projections 16 which are normally spaced from the curled projections 15 of contacts 8, but are adapted to make contact there with at stated times, as hereinafter described.

In the outer wall of the case C, I provide a pair of operating buttons R and L, which have stems 17 and 18, respectively, slidably held in the wall 23 case C. Springs 21 and 22, respectively, on the stems 17 and 18 are interposed between the buttons R and L and the outer wall 23 of the case for normally holding the buttons outward from the case so that the metallic operating cones 24 and 25, respectivel on the inner ends of stems 17 and 18, Wlll be held out of engagement with the contact portions 14 and 15 of each set of contacts R and L.

Intermediate the pilot lamp P and the steering post S, I provide a. air of mechanical operating devices 1- amPZ which are pivoted at 26 and 27, respectively, to the bottom of case C and may be suitably insulated therefrom, if necessary. Members r and Z have enlarged curved face portions 28 and 29, respectively, andflat extensions 30 and 31, respectively, integral therewith and extended therefrom and are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the pair of switch contacts 7 and 8 for bridging across the spaces between said com tacts and completing the circuits, as hereinalter described in detail.

Portions 28 and 29 are adapted to be selectively engaged by a roller actuating device A, suitably attached to a rotatable portion of the steering mechanism by means of a bracket 12 so that the operation of the steerin wheel W will effect the operation of the evice A and the resultant operation of one or the other of the members r and Z. It will be readily observed, by reference to the drawing, that the steering wheel W when turned to the right from a neutral position will move the roller A beneath the face 28 of member 0* and thus cause the flat extension 30 thereof to be moved into position between contact springs 7 and 8, regardless of whether such action may have been desired or contemplated by the operator of the vehicle. Such action will result in the lighting of pilot lamp P and the operation of a suitable indicator I for indicating a turn to the right, as hereinafter described in connection with the circuit diaram shown. in Fig. 3. A reverse action of t e steering wheel to a neutral position will restore the member 1' to normal, position and disconnect the signal. Likewise, a movement' of the-wheel W to the left, followed by a reverse movement to neutral position will operate to similarly actuate the signal I for indicating a movement of the vehicle to the left.

The movement of the buttons R and L inwardly so that their cones 24 and 25 en gage between the curled extensions 14 and 15 of contact springs 7 and 8, also operate to actuate the signal I in like manner and it is the intention that the buttons should be operated substantially prior to the turnin" of the steering wheel W so that the signal I may indicate a contemplated change of direction sufiiciently in advance of the actual turning or stopping operation as to preclude the pomibility of accident. The buttons having been so -operated, the turning of the wheel in the manner hereinbefore R by means of wire 33'.

described will spread the portions 14 and 15 apart and release the cones 24 and 25 therefrom to permit their restoration to normal positions by means of the tension of the springs 21 and 22.

My system of control may be operated with a single wire or grounded circuit, or by a duplex system of the character shown in the circuit diagram in Fig. 3, which I will now describe in detail.

Terminal 32 of battery B is connected with spring contact 8 of switch L by means of wire 33 and also with contact 8 of switch Contacts 7, 7, of switches R and L are connected with suitable elements of'indicator I by wires 34 and 35, respectively. Contacts 12 and 12, of switches R and L are connected together'by means of rarer/er a wire 36 and terminal 3'2v of pilot lamp l is connected with wire 36 by means of wire 38, while the other terminal 39 of said lamp is connectedwith the battery terminal 40 by means of wire 41. Thus current is supplied to the pilot lamp P when switch contacts 8 and 12 of either set are closed through wire 33, contacts 8 and 12, of switch L, wires 36 and 38, lamp P and wire 41 to battery, of the left hand set of connections. When the right hand contacts 8 and 12 are closed the circuit is established through battery Wire 34, the said contactsof switch R, Wires 36 and 38, lamp P and wire 41 to battery. It is seen from the above set of connections that the lamp P will be energized whenever either of the switches R and L are operated and will thus serve to indicate that the connections are operative and the signals are being displayed. Battery terminal 40 is connected with indicator I by means of wire 42. I

The operation of buttons R and L close the circuit with the indicator signals (not shown) through contacts 7 and 8 and lamp P as described. The automatic operation of member A on steering wheel IV operates members r and Z as described and said members in turn spread the contacts 7 and 8 far enou h apart to permit the release of buttons R and L, and yet maintain the connections established thereby. Thus, although it is intended to give a preliminary signal by means of the buttons R and L, the failure to operate said buttons will not prevent the giving of the proper signal when the wheel is turned, and a signal indicating a contemplated change of direction will always be insured.

It is conceived to be possible to use my improved control system in connection with devices other than direction indicators with but slight modification or alteration and I desire to claim broadly on the application and cooperation of my device as described.

What I claim is:

1. A signal operating mechanism for vehicles including in combination with a steering post a casing fixed thereto, a pair of contact elements, each including spring contacts normally spaced apart for maintaining an open circuit, a pair of manually operable devices adapted for engagement between the contact members of each set for initially closing the circuit, a pair of pivoted arms mounted in said casing and having portions thereof adapted for engagement with and operation by the steering post, whereby said arms will engage and spring the contact members of the contact elements, respectively, for maintaining a closed circuit when the steering post is turned in opposite directions.

2. A signal operating mechanism for vehicles including a set of spring contact membels spaced apart for normally maintaining an open circuit, an operating member adapted for manual operation and for engagement with said contact members for closing-the circuit prior to a change in direction of the vehicle, and a mechanically operable member adapted for connection with the steering gear of the vehicle for releasing said manually operable member and maintaining contact between said contact members while the vehicle is changing its direction, and adapted for automatic restoration to normal position when the vehicle has completed its change of direction, and permitting the restoration of said contact members to circuit opening position. I

3. A device of the character described including a pair of spaced sets of spring contact members arranged normally in circuit opening position for energizing electric signals for right and left hand turns of the vehicle, respectively, independent p rating members for each of said sets of contacts adapted for manual operation prior to a change of direction of the vehicle, and for engagement with said contact members for closing the circuit of the respective signals, and means automatically operable with the change in direction of the vehicle for restoring said manuallv operable members to circuit opening position while maintaining said contact members in circuit closing position, said means being restored to normal position when the change of direction is completed, thereby permitting the opening of said contact members to circuit opening position.

4. A device of the character described including a pair of spaced sets of spring contact members arranged normally in circuit opening position for energizing electric signals for right and left hand turns of the vehicle, respectively, independent operating members for each .of said sets of contacts adapted for manual operation prior to a change of direction of the vehicle, and for engagement with said contact members for closing the circuit of the respective signals, and means automatically operable with the change in direction of the vehicle for restoring said manually operable members to circuit opening position while maintaining said contact members in circuit closing position, said means being restored to: normal position when the change of direction is completed, thereby permitting the opening of said contact members to circuit opening position, said means being adapted for mechanical connection with the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

Signed at LOs Angeles, Los Angeles County, State of California, this 21st day of August, 1919.

HERBERT S. BECKMAN.

In presence of LUTHER S. Mscx, H. M. Bummer. 

